Blake UK Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Policy

Blake UK believes that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is about understanding our impact on the world and how we can positively leverage this to benefit our stakeholders, employees and communities. 

Our CSR strategy is built on 4 key pillars:

We Value the Environment

We are committed to reducing our environmental impact and incorporating sustainability in our operations. We:

• Actively reduce single-use plastics.

• Have transitioned from paper-based processes to digital solutions to minimise waste and improve efficiency.

• Promote environmentally responsible practices across our operations and encourage stakeholders to do the same.

We Value the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI)

We believe in fostering fairness, equality and inclusion to create a welcoming and supportive workplace for everyone. Our goals include:

• Eliminating discrimination and promoting equal opportunities in recruitment, retention and career progression.

• Embedding EDI principles into all workplace policies and practices. 

• Building a welcoming environment that celebrates diverse perspectives and talents.

We Value Our Employees

We prioritise the well-being and development of our employees and empower them to grow personally and professionally. To support this, we:

• Provide initiatives that prioritise employee well-being and personal development.

• Offer career opportunities that support skill development and professional growth.

• Foster a workplace culture of open communication, where everyone’s contributions are valued and respected.

We Value Our Communities and Suppliers

Community

We actively support and build relationships in the wider community. Our community initiatives include:

• Sponsoring Sheffield F.C, the World’s First Football Club.

• Supporting The Children’s Hospital Charity (TCHC) through fundraising events and fundraising campaigns such as the Snowflake Campaign. This year, we took part in The Inflatable 5K, The Three Peaks Challenge and Snowdon as well as incorporating a round-up to charity on our checkout page and encouraging fundraising in our trade counter. In 2024, we have raised over £4,000 in total.

• Being involved with organisations such as SCTE, CEDIA, CAI, Made in Sheffield and the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce.

We provide annual updates on our community involvement, including a summary of events and total fundraising amounts which will be available later this month.

Suppliers

We are committed to working with suppliers who uphold strong business ethics and align with our high standards. We:

• Ensure all suppliers meet high standards of business ethics.

• Require supply chains to comply with the Modern Slavery Act 2015 to ensure they are free from unethical practices.

• Map supply chains back to raw materials, to ensure products are ethically sourced.

• Build collaborative, trust-based relationships based on shared values and mutual responsibility.